Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s legal team is reportedly preparing to seek subpoenas against President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in Kaepernick’s collusion case against the NFL.

The former player’s lawsuit alleges NFL teams colluded to keep him unsigned due to his protests against police brutality and racial injustice, when Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.

Advertisement

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Mediain August 2016.

Yahoo Sports reports that Kaepernick’s attorneys are looking to see if either Trump, Pence, or any other high-ranking White House official pressured teams to avoid signing Kaepernick because of his protests.

NFL owners approved a new policy governing the pregame ritual last month, requiring players to stand during the anthem if they are on the field. Trump offered tepid approval of the change, but insisted that all players should be on the sidelines during the playing of the national anthem.

The president has repeatedly criticized players for not standing for the anthem and has gone as far as to say team owners should fire players for doing so.

The new NFL policy gives players the option of remaining in the locker room during the playing of the anthem if they do not wish to stand.